Pattern of recent pediatric 1 to 59 months mortality of burning in Mazandaran, from 2011 to 2017

Background:Despite preventive efforts, burns are still one of the most important causes of child mortality and morbidity. In Mazandaran province, about 17.5% of under nineteen year-old unintentional deaths in hospitals have been due to burns in recent years.Methods:In this cross-sectional study, all one to 59 months old patients died under the term Burning in the hospitals of Mazandaran province, north of Iran, during 7 years period (2011–2017) constituted the study sample. The patients died because of other reasons but had small non-lethal burning and who died from complication of corrosive ingestion were excluded.Results:Thirty-nine under six-year-old children died in the study period by reason of burning. Mean age was 2.6 (±1.37) years, 21 (53.8%) were female. About 90% of the patients were admitted in a tertiary burning center which had a burning intensive care unit with12 beds. 7 (17.9%) of deaths caused by Hydrocarbon flame, 25 (64.1%) by hot liquid, 2 (5.1%) by electrical injuries and 5 (12.8%) by non-hydrocarbon flame. The annual mortality from 2011 to 2017 was 9, 12, 7, 4, 3, 2 and 2, respectively. The commonest age of death were 2 and 4 years old (10 cases) and then at the age 3 years old (9 cases). Deaths in June and July were about two times greater than other months.There was no significant difference in patient’s age by the burning causes. In the electrical and both flames caused mortality, the male involvement was higher but hot liquid mortality was higher in female than male (16/9). Death from hot liquid has a peak in the second year of life.Conclusion: Although it seems that under six-year-old death from the burning is decreasing in Mazandaran in the recent years, it is one of the most common causes of pediatric death so it needs more attention for prevention, treatment, and its complications.